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Thursday, July 31, 2008

Texas A&M-Commerce is the top choice in the North Division and Abilene Christian is the favorite in the South Division, according to the 2008 Lone Star Conference preseason polls announced Thursday. The league's preseason polls reflect the opinions of LSC head coaches and sports information directors, plus various media representatives from throughout the region. The 2008 football season kicks off in late August, and the LSC has 13 teams set to compete. Each team will play a total of nine countable conference games. Divisional champions will be determined by only those games against division opponents, while the overall league champion will be determined by the overall nine-game conference record, which will include division games plus designated crossover contests.

NORTH DIVISION Texas A&M-Commerce is favored to win the Lone Star Conference North Division title, according to the annual preseason poll, after being part of a five-way tie at the top last season. The Lions received first-place votes on eight of the 16 ballots cast by LSC coaches, sports information directors and various media representatives. A&M-C, which finished 5-6 last season, totaled 82 points in the poll to finish ahead of Southeastern Oklahoma. SOSU, who has won or shared the division title for the last four years, earned four first-place votes and 71 points. Southwestern Oklahoma (58) and Central Oklahoma (47) each received two first-place nods to finish third and fourth, respectively. Northeastern State (43) and East Central (35) rounded out the poll.

SOUTH DIVISION Abilene Christian is narrowly favored to win the Lone Star Conference South Division in 2008, according to the annual preseason poll. ACU, who posted a 10-3 mark in 2007, earned first-place votes on eight of the 18 ballots to finish with 113 total points just in front of West Texas A&M's 111-point tally in the poll of LSC head coaches, sports information directors and various media representatives. Both ACU and WTAMU advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Division II playoffs last season. The Buffaloes, three-time defending LSC South Division and LSC overall champion, received the most first-place votes (10). Tarleton State, 9-2 overall last year, finished third with 91 points, Midwestern State was fourth 75, Texas A&M-Kingsville fifth 49, Angelo State sixth 43 and Eastern New Mexico seventh 22.

Four Lone Star Conference football standouts earned LSC Preseason Player of the Year acclaim for the 2008 season league officials announced Thursday. Abilene Christian running back Bernard Scott was named LSC South Division Offensive Player of the Year, while West Texas A&M linebacker Jared Brock picked up the division's Defensive Player of the Year award. East Central quarterback Marcus Johnson was chosen as Offensive Player of the Year in the North Division and Northeastern State safety Broderick Mondy was selected as the North's Defensive Player of the Year. The league's preseason awards were selected by a vote of LSC head coaches and sports information directors, plus various media representatives from throughout the region. Scott, a 5-11, 220-pound senior from Vernon, Texas, was the favorite on 14 of 18 ballots to earn the honor over teammate Billy Malone and WTAMU's Keith Null. Last season, Scott finished as the runner-up for the Harlon Hill Award after rushing for 2,165 yards and scoring an NCAA Division II single-season record 39 touchdowns. Scott averaged 166.5 yards rushing per game. He scored six touchdowns in two games last season and twice broke the single-game rushing record, including rushing for 303 yards in the Wildcats' season-ending triple-overtime loss to Chadron State in the second round of the playoffs. Brock, a 6-1, 232-pound senior from Abernathy, Texas, collected his second straight 100-plus tackle season by leading the Buffs with 100 stops, a figure that includes 47 solo tackles. Brock also racked up 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, eight pass break-ups and 10 quarterback hurries during the 2007 campaign. He earned the award with 10 votes to finish in front of teammate Brandon Swain (six votes), Eastern New Mexico's Jeremy Hibbler (one) and Texas A&M-Kingsville's Mike Martinez (one). Johnson, a 6-1, 189-pound junior from Abilene, Texas, was voted LSC North Offensive Back of the Year and a first team All-LSC North selection after setting several school records in 2007. He set the school mark for touchdown passes in a game (six), yards in a season (2,508), yards in a game (387), completed passes in a game (39), completed passes for a season (256), attempted passes in a game (62) and attempted passes in a season (416). He completed 61.5 percent of his passes with 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions for a 117.52 pass efficiency rating. He also threw for an average of 228 yards per game. With six votes, Johnson edged out Texas A&M-Commerce quarterback Terry Mayo (five). Central Oklahoma's Ben Birmingham (two), NSU's Jarrett Byers (one) and Southeastern Oklahoma's Daniel Nichols (one) rounded out the voting. Mondy, a 6-2, 210-pound senior from Plano, Texas, led the RiverHawks and league in tackles with 117 last season, which ranked 10th nationally. Mondy tallied 10 or more tackles in six of the 10 games including a 19-tackle effort against ECU to garner Defensive Back of the Year, first team All-LSC and to the All-Academic team accolades in the North Division in 2007. His five votes topped A&M-C's Marcus Smith (four), UCO's Jermelle Cudjo (three), SOSU's Bernard Daniel (two) and SWOSU's Greg Franklin.

From the LSC WebsiteWest Texas A&M is favored to win the Lone Star Conference championship, according to the 2008 LSC preseason volleyball poll announced Thursday. The league's preseason polls reflect the opinions of LSC head coaches and sports information directors, plus various media representatives from throughout the region. The 2008 volleyball season begins in late August, with 14 teams set to compete in the league including first-year program East Central. LSC teams will use a one-conference, single round-robin scheduling model in 2008, in which each team will play one match against each of the other teams. The LSC regular season title will be determined by conference matches with the champion and runner-up receiving trophies, while the postseason tournament will use an eight-team bracket, taking the top eight teams in the final conference standings. The tournament will be played Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 13-15, using the NCAA regional format and be hosted by the No. 1 seed. The Lady Buffs compiled a 36-8 overall and perfect 12-0 LSC record in 2007. WTAMU claimed the LSC Championship, Southwest Regional title and advanced to the national semifinals for the second straight year. WTAMU earned first-place votes on 35 of the 37 votes cast for a total of 515 points. Central Oklahoma and Midwestern State each picked up one of the remaining first place votes to finish second and third, respectively. UCO edged MSU with 448 total points to 446 for the Mustangs. Abilene Christian was picked third with 397 points, while Texas Woman's was fifth with 339, Texas A&M-Kingsville sixth with 305, Cameron seventh with 279 and Tarleton State eighth with 272. Angelo State (208), Southwestern Oklahoma (189), Southeastern Oklahoma (166), Texas A&M-Commerce (159), Eastern New Mexico (93) and East Central (69) rounded out the poll.

Three Lone Star Conference volleyball stars were honored Thursday as league officials announced the Preseason Players of the Year for the 2008 season. West Texas A&M swept the honors as Laura Prinsen was named Offensive Player of the Year, while Sara Contreras claimed Defensive Player of the Year recognition and Katie Rickwartz received Setter of the Year acclaim. The league's preseason awards were selected by a vote of LSC head coaches and sports information directors, plus various media representatives from throughout the region. Prinsen, a junior from Spring, Texas, was the overpowering choice for offensive honors, earning 30 of 36 votes cast. The reigning Offensive Player of the Year, she led WTAMU in both kills (586) and kills per game (3.88). She also is second in total blocks (85), third in digs (395) and third in assists (99). Contreras was the top choice for defensive acclaim, tallying 15 of the 35 votes cast to edge out Midwestern State's Alysha Pritt (10 votes). A senior from Amarillo, Texas, Contreras was All-LSC last season with a team-high 869 digs for an average of 5.83 per game. Rickwartz was the popular choice for Setter of the Year with 21 votes, to finish ahead of MSU's Allison Schreiber (13 votes). The Canyon, Texas, native, enters her junior campaign after pacing both the Lady Buffs and LSC in assists with 1884 and assists per game with 12.82, while earning co-Setter of the Year recognition. These players will lead their teams into the 2008 season which begins Aug. 28. The LSC has 14 teams set to compete including first-year program East Central. LSC teams will use a one-conference, single round-robin scheduling model in 2008, in which each team will play one match against each of the other team

Midwestern State is the favorite in the Southwest Soccer Conference as the league's annual preseason poll was released on Thursday. The Mustangs received nine of 11 first-place votes on the ballots cast by the league's head coaches, sports information directors and various media representatives. MSU totaled 53 points to finish ahead of West Texas A&M. WTAMU collected the other two first-place nods and finished with 46 points, while Northeastern State was third with 29, Eastern New Mexico fourth with 20 and Missouri Southern fifth with 17. MSU and WTAMU shared the SSC title last year with identical 7-1 conference records. The Mustangs were 18-3-2 overall and advanced to the national semifinals. The Southwest Soccer Conference (SSC), formed in 2004, is an alliance of five men's soccer teams that span four states and two NCAA Division II conferences. The membership includes four Lone Star Conference teams (Eastern New Mexico, Midwestern State, Northeastern State and West Texas A&M) and one Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association team (Missouri Southern). The schedule of games begins in late August. Each of the five SSC teams will play the other twice during the regular season, with those contests determining the conference champion.

West Texas A&M's Ben Everson and Midwestern State's Robert Swann were selected as the Southwest Soccer Conference Preseason Players of the Year for 2008 league officials announced Thursday. Everson was recognized as SSC Offensive Preseason Player of the Year, while Swann was named SSC Defensive Preseason Player of the Year. The honors were voted upon by the league's head coaches and sports information directors and various media representatives. Everson, a 5-10 sophomore forward from Middlesbrough, England, received five of nine votes cast for offensive honors to finish in front of MSU's Ahmad Ihmeidan, Tyler Murphy and Kyle Kmiec. Everson made the most of his first season, emerging as one of the country's leading goal scorers, with 14 on the season to go along with his team leading point total of 31 to earn first team All-SSC and Freshman of the Year honors. Swann, a 6-1 senior defender from Sunderland, England, was the top choice on defense on six of nine ballots, while teammate Jeremy Turner and WTAMU's Shane Taylor also received votes. From his center back position, Swann spearheaded a defense that allowed 13 goals in 23 matches including a school-record breaking 12 shutouts. The first-team All-SSC selection also scored six goals and was the team's penalty kicker converting all four of his chances this season. The Southwest Soccer Conference (SSC), formed in 2004, is an alliance of five men's soccer teams that span four states and two NCAA Division II conferences. The membership includes four Lone Star Conference teams (Eastern New Mexico, Midwestern State, Northeastern State and West Texas A&M) and one Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association team (Missouri Southern). The slate of games begins in late August with each of the five SSC teams playing the other twice during the regular season.

Central Oklahoma is the top choice to win the Lone Star Conference women's soccer championship according to the league's 2008 preseason poll released Thursday. UCO won the regular season title with a perfect 10-0-0 conference record and advanced to the Midwest Regional final in 2007. The Bronchos own an all-time 69-13-3 mark in league games since the program started in 1998. The Bronchos claimed 21 first-place votes among the 27 ballots that were cast by the league's head coaches and sports information directors and various media representatives. UCO totaled 290 points in the preseason poll to finish in front of its conference opponents. Midwestern State was second with one first-place nod and 255 points, while reigning LSC champion West Texas A&M was third with 237 including four first-place votes and Texas A&M-Commerce was fourth with 203 and the other first-place tally. Angelo State finished fifth with 182, followed by Texas Woman's 163, Abilene Christian 141, Northeastern State 107, East Central 77, Eastern New Mexico 73 and Southwestern Oklahoma 54. The 2008 soccer season starts on the pitch in late August. Each of the 11 LSC teams will play the other once during the regular season, with the results of those contests to be used in determining the seeds for a six-team postseason conference tournament. This year's tournament will be hosted by the No. 1 seed on Nov. 6-7-9, 2008.

Three Lone Star Conference women's soccer standouts were tabbed for preseason honors for 2008 league officials announced Thursday. West Texas A&M's Elisabeth Markussen was named Offensive Player of the Year, Central Oklahoma's Alli Miller was tabbed Defensive Player of the Year and Northeastern State's Patricia Nardy earned Goalkeeper of the Year acclaim. All three were overwhelming choices in a vote of LSC head coaches and sports information directors, plus various media representatives from throughout the region. Markussen, a senior from Borkup, Denmark, had a solid campaign in 2007 leading the Lady Buffs to the LSC Championship with 14 goals including four game-winners and 32 points. Miller, a junior from Norman, Okla., was named first-team All-LSC for the second straight season in 2007. She led a UCO defense that yielded a mere 22 goals on the season with only one surrendered during conference play. Nardy, a sophomore from Sao Paulo, Brazil, had an outstanding year in 2007 recording 103 saves in 20 games. She was a second team All-LSC selection as a freshman. The trio will lead their respective teams onto the pitch in late August as the 2008 season begins. The LSC has 11 teams ready to play this fall, with each team playing a 10-game conference schedule as part of its regular season slate.

Darrell Green will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday as part of the Class of 2008. The cornerback, long known as the fastest man in the NFL, played his entire career with the Washington Redskins from 1983 to 2002, was selected to seven Pro Bowls and was part of two Super Bowl champions. He finished with 54 interceptions and electrified Redskins fans as a punt returner. The Post's Jason Reid spoke with Green about his life and career.

Q: Giving back to the community is something that's so important to you. If you'd just talk a little bit about things that you do to try to give back.

Green: Well, the whole idea of service obviously started with God. But my mom would make us give stuff to people. She would say, "Take this food, or these clothes or whatever." . . . We saw our mom giving, and I just found myself naturally thinking, "Man, where can I go and support people?"I got into D.C. with the rec department and doing things with them. Got a chance to see up close and personal some of the needs and issues in the community. Started Youth Life Foundation [in 1988], said, "How can I help, how can I make a difference?" And it's just God's grace, you know, I feel that God put that in my heart to do. That's who I am, that's part of my person.

Q: Going into the Hall of Fame now. It's been such a buildup. So many people are just so excited for you and your family. How has this been for your family?

Green: (Laughs) Incredible. Incredible. My son will be the one that introduces me. My daughter said, "Dad, I never really thought about it until one day I was sitting, and I was thinking to myself, 'When you go to Canton, Ohio,' " she said, " 'Dad, my children's children's children's children will be able to see this.' " She said, "Wow." She said, "And it hit me, like, 'Wow.' "-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Q: Was it your desire? Is that the reason why people who might have been thought of more highly than you are not in your position right now, getting ready to go into the Hall of Fame?

Green: Oh yeah. In other words, the 27 guys drafted ahead of me or whatever the number, defensive backs drafted ahead of me, why am I more successful than them? That's no mystery. . . . Texas A&I -- that's not Notre Dame, that's not USC, Michigan. So, I think that I was better than those guys [from] Day One. It's just who had, who was going to succumb to the stereotype or whatever that the guy playing at the little school can't compete. In other words, I didn't get better than those guys, I was better in the beginning. And so, could've played in any of those schools. They just, again, when you're coming out of school looking like me, only one year of varsity, a midget. I mean, I don't blame them. Who would pull the trigger for a kid like me? But, the reality is, I was better than the guys ahead of me.

Go to the Washington Post for the rest of the story. (Registration required)

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

DULLES, Va. - In 1969, after his parents were divorced, 9-year-old Darrell Green moved with his mother from a nice, picturesque Houston community to the projects. He then starting riding a public bus every morning to go back to his old neighborhood and finish out the year at his old school.

"I get off this bus," Green said, "and this guy had a little shop, maybe a lawnmower shop or something. He would chase me every day. I never told my parents. I just tied down all my stuff and when I hit the ground out of that bus: Pow! I did that maybe for a month until school was out.

"He had bad intentions. He was chasing a 9-year-old boy."

So Green was off and running, and he never really stopped. Not when he started attending another elementary school and outran every sixth grader in the 50-yard dash. Not when he got to middle school and outran every boy on the track team, driving crazy the coach who begged and begged but couldn't persuade Green to join the squad.

Angelo State head baseball coach Kevin Brooks has announced the addition of eight transfer student-athletes to fill voids in the 2009 roster.

Arriving in San Angelo will be Cade Baxter from Arkansas State, Sam Janca from Texas Tech, Tony Kostelnik from Point Park University in Pennsylvania and Keith Towne from Lamar along with four junior college transfers: Jesse Husband and Clay Puckett from Alvin Community College, Michael Medrano from Navarro College and Jerris Springfield from Weatherford College.

Baxter, who was an all-state outfielder his junior year at Rockwall High School, played one season at Arkansas State and batted .294 with six doubles, six RBI and a .471 slugging percentage. Janca, a right-handed pitcher from Georgetown and a 2008 Big 12 conference All-Academic second team selection, appeared in 25 games for the Red Raiders in his two seasons in Lubbock and compiled a 2-2 record and a 5.75 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 36 innings pitched. Kostelnik, a catcher and a native of West Miffin, Pa., played three seasons at PPU from 2005-07 and led the Pioneers in his final campaign with a .397 average and five triples to go along with nine doubles, 16 RBI and a .560 slugging percentage. Towne, a first baseman who hails from Katy, played two years for the Cardinals and batted .259 with four home runs and 17 RBI.

Husband, who played his high school ball at Baytown's Robert E. Lee High School, finished his sophomore year at ACC with a .393 average with five home runs, nine doubles and 26 RBI while splitting time between shortstop and second base. Puckett, a first baseman from Texas City, hit .320 with one home run, six doubles and 30 RBI last season at Alvin Community College. Medrano, who pitched for two seasons at Navarro College, was a three-time all-state selection at Dawson High School. Springfield, who toiled the rubber for two campaigns at Weatherford College, was a first team all-district and all-Central Texas selection for Canyon High School in New Braunfels...

Very exciting finish to the game. The North overcame a 15-0 fourth quarter deficit, taking a 16-15 lead with 25 seconds to play. The South's D J Monroe returned the ensuing kickoff 68 yards to the North 32 yard line with only a game saving tackle from the kicker preventing the TD. Three plays later, the North blocked a field goal attempt to wrap up the victory.

McDow helps North to All-Star win - 8 receptions for 86 yards for the WT signee. Another WT recruit, Jeremy Watson had a 37 yard TD reception to pull the North within 2.

Before the start of the 2007 season, Grantham had to win a tight three-way battle for the quarterback job at Tarleton State. After being named the starter over David Durrell and Logan Cordes, the NCAA Division I transfer from New Mexico State - who hardly anyone knew - went on to pass for 2,884 yards and 24 touchdowns.

“It was tough coming in as a transfer, especially as a QB,” Grantham said. “I just kept my head down and worked hard to win the starting job, and fortunately I did.” Now, everyone knows Grantham, and everyone preparing to start fall practices on Aug. 7 knows there is no quarterback controversy at Tarleton. The El Paso native who starred at EP Franklin High School won’t have to worry about fighting for the starting job as a sophomore, and can’t wait to get work.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Didn't catch it in time, but last night's THSCA Basketball All-Star game featured PJ Colley (heading to Texas A&M-Commerce) and Brock Kimball (heading to Texas A&M-Kingsville). Both did well for their squads with Colley scoring 16 points and Kimball 15.

Colley also played in the Dallas vs. Fort Worth All-Star Game, where he was MVP and the winner of the slam dunk contest. Earlier this year, he participated in the Tarrant County vs. Dallas County all-star game at Thomas Coliseum in Haltom County. These post-season accolades follow up his State Championship and Defensive MVP Awards.

Thanks to TAMC SID Danny Kambel for the additional note on Colley: "Texas A&M University-Commerce incoming freshman P.J. Colley was featured as the No. 6 highlight in ESPN's SportsCenter Top 10 Plays of the Day for his efforts in Monday's Texas High School Coaches Association All-Star Game in San Antonio. For Colley, it was his first of three dunks in the All-Star Game. In the dunk, he jammed the ball over his opponent. He finished the game with 16 points and also participated in the halftime dunk contest."

Danieal Manning bounced around in the Chicago Bears secondary his first two seasons before finally settling at one position this training camp.

The Bears' top pick in the 2006 draft believes he has found his niche at the nickel back spot formerly filled by teammate Ricky Manning Jr.

"He's a guy that's a jack of all trades," Bears coach Lovie Smith said following Monday's practice. "So first we had to see if he could play cornerback or safety. Now we think he has found his home. ... Who knows how good the guy can be? He has a ton of talent."

Monday, July 28, 2008

ABILENE, Texas – Former University of Tulsa quarterback Clark Harrell announced Monday that he is transferring to Abilene Christian University and is already in Abilene preparing himself for the 2008 season.

"I'm in Abilene right now, and I'm going to ACU," Harrell said Monday afternoon. "This is a good place with good people, and I believe ACU will give me a great chance to succeed on the field as well as off the field. I've met great people here: the coaching staff, the faculty and my new teammates. Everyone has been great. There's a really good feel to this place.

"Harell joins an Abilene Christian team coming off back-to-back NCAA Division II playoff appearances. The Wildcats, who were 10-3 last season, have been ranked as high as No. 5 in the pre-season. They return the lethal offensive trio of senior quarterback Billy Malone (3,914 yards and 37 touchdowns through the air in 2007), senior running back Bernard Scott (2,165 yards and 39 touchdowns on the ground in 2007) and senior wide receiver Johnny Knox (1,158 yards and 17 touchdowns receiving in 2007).

Malone, a three-year starter at quarterback, is the all-time leading passer in Lone Star Conference history (8,799 yards) and, barring injury, will be the LSC's career leader in attempts, completions, touchdown passes, yards, passing yards per game, total offense and total yards per game at the end of the 2008 season. Malone is the fifth-leading active passer in all of NCAA football, regardless of division.

Harrell said despite his desire to play, he believes Malone's presence will be good for him and his future at ACU.

"It's a good thing that Billy is here and I don't have to come in right away and get on the field," he said. "It would be tough without knowing the offense to get out there right now. This will give me the chance to watch and learn from a guy who obviously knows the offense and knows what he's doing out there.

"ACU fourth-year head coach Chris Thomsen said adding a quarterback of Harrell's ability to the Wildcat roster will only strengthen his team. Besides Malone, ACU returns only one quarterback from last year, and this is redshirt freshman Zach Stewart. Oklahoma prep quarterback Mitchell Gale of Alva, Okla., will join the Wildcat roster in 2008 as a true freshman.

Harrell, Stewart and Gale will battle for the backup job in 2008 with the starting job up in the air in 2009.

"We're excited to have Clark here, in addition to the other three quarterbacks we have," said Thomsen, who is 22-12 in three seasons at ACU. "He'll come in and compete for the job behind Billy this year, and then he'll be a great guy to add to the competition for the starting job after Billy leaves.

"Harrell – whose parents both graduated from ACU – will be a sophomore in 2008 after sitting out the 2006 season as a redshirt at Tulsa. Last year he played in two games for the Golden Hurricane, but didn't complete a pass. He did, however, rush for 10 yards on two carries.

In the spring game in May he completed 10 of 13 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns before deciding to transfer.

Harrell was a high school standout at Ennis High School where he played for his father, Sam Harrell, the Ennis head coach. After missing most of his junior season with a broken foot, Harrell led his team to an 11-2 record and the regional championship game in his senior season (2005). He completed 323 of 464 passes for 3,924 yards and 39 touchdowns as a senior, leading Class 4A in passing.

He was named the District 14-4A MVP and earned first team all-district honors. He was injured in the first game of his junior season and missed the entire year. His older brother is record-setting Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell.

And the city’s career rushing leader will make his comeback — initially, at least — at wide receiver.

Ending speculation that first surfaced last November, the former Clark running back, who hasn’t played in a game since his senior season of high school in 2004, was admitted into the University of the Incarnate Word on a football scholarship Thursday.

He is expected to report with other players on Aug. 19. Drills will begin Aug. 27 at the new Benson Stadium on the UIW campus. The team is expected to play its inaugural season in the fall of 2009.

Wilkerson, who hasn’t been in football since 2005 when he was a member of the Texas Longhorns, will be the biggest name on the Cardinals’ roster.

After a record-setting high-school career in San Antonio, Jerrell Wilkerson once was presumed as one of the top recruits to come from the city in recent years. After accepting a scholarship at Texas and starting a redshirt season in 2005, he was considered a player who could help the Longhorns in the future.

Wilkerson abruptly quit school only a couple of weeks before the Longhorns' national championship game victory over USC without playing a down to return home. He hasn't played since then.

Golding moving on to UALRABILENE -- ACU assistant men's basketball coach Joe Golding has joined the coaching staff of head coach Steve Shields at NCAA Division I Arkansas-Little Rock, the school announced Tuesday...

A day into training camp, the Dolphins signed one of their two unsigned draft picks, added an Arena league receiver and waived two players. Second-round defensive end Phillip Merling signed a four-year contract with the team today while Dallas Desperados receiver Anthony Armstrong was inked as well.

To make room for the two, wideout Justin Wynn and offensive tackle Dan Gore (both undrafted rookies) were waived.

The 25-year-old Armstrong (5-11, 175) played college football at West Texas A&M. He went undrafted in 2005 and played for the Odessa Roughnecks of the Intense Football League (an indoor league) in 2006. He spent the past two seasons with the Dallas Desperados of the Arena Football League.

At West Texas A&M, Armstrong earned All-Lone Star Conference his junior and senior seasons and finished his collegiate career with 45 receptions for 1,768 yards. He had a pre-draft workout with the Dallas Cowboys in 2005 (most obscure connection ever?) but went undrafted and unsigned.

Friday, July 25, 2008

WEATHERFORD – Southwestern Oklahoma State University baseball coach Scott Selby has announced the signing of 22 players that are expected to significantly bolster the 2009 roster. That number is expected to grow even more with the addition of recruited walk-ons that have agreed to tryout for the team once the school year begins.

“We targeted kids that come from winning programs and those who approach the game hungry,” Selby said. “We are going to turn win here and this is the group that is going to help start it.”

Selby said another focus of the recruiting effort was to improve the overall athleticism of the team and to have more depth at each position.

“We need to have more guys competing for a spot in the lineup. It’s not good to have a player at a position without a challenge.” Selby said. “Every spot on our team will be up for grabs. No one will be handed anything.”

Schultz proved to be a versatile option in the post at Otero Junior College in 2005-06, and finished the season with 13 point and nine rebound per game average. He earned all-state honors at George Washington high school.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

WEATHERFORD – Southwestern Oklahoma State University has called upon its own ultra-successful men’s basketball coach to take an even larger responsibility as the school’s new director of athletics.

Todd Thurman, 47, will remain as the school’s basketball coach while serving in the dual capacity as athletics director beginning Aug. 1. He replaces Cecil Perkins who stepped aside after 27 years as the school’s AD.

“I’m very excited and honored about the opportunity that President John Hays and the administration has entrusted me,” Thurman said. “We share many of the same goals when it comes to our athletic program. A lot of work is ahead of us, but we are committed to building all our sports programs to an elite status in the Lone Star Conference and at NCAA Division II level.”

Thurman, a native of Yukon, was recommended for the job by the university’s selection committee. He assured President Hays that he could continue to successfully coach men’s basketball and serve as the university’s athletics director.

“We all look forward to his success in both areas,” Hays said. “I believe he will do well for SWOSU, our student athletes and our athletic fans and supporters.”

Thurman will be one of only two administrators in the 15-school Lone Star Conference that will handle coaching duties and serve as athletic director. Thurman believes that this new and unique dual assignment can work at SWOSU.

“I feel good about it because of the strong support staff we have in place particularly with (associate athletic director) Kelli Litsch and (assistant athletic director for external affairs) Rouben Tourian,” Thurman said. “They are outstanding in their roles and will allow me to concentrate on learning how to best lead our athletic programs from the outset.”

Thurman has gained wide-spread popularity in the community with his exciting style of basketball where the Bulldogs have quickly grown into a crowd favorite. Thurman’s two SWOSU teams have each been ranked in the NCAA Division II Top 25 and have qualified for the Lone Star Conference Tournament. Last year’s team finished with a 21-7 record, the most wins since 1984.

He’s the fullback at the bottom of the pile getting dirty while the running back dances into the end zone untouched. Or, in a spread it out offense like the one employed by Tarleton State, he’s the H-Back in motion like a receiver, just before turning upfield to cut down a linebacker.

“As long as we’re winning, that’s all I care about,” says Murray of his role in the Texans’ high-octane offense. “I just want to win.”

Winning is something Murray has grown accustomed to throughout both his prep and collegiate careers in Stephenville. The Yellow Jackets combined for a 16-5 record during his last two years, and after redshirting in 2004 at Tarleton, he has played on Texan teams that were 22-9 the past three seasons. His combined varsity and NCAA record is 38-14.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Three members of the Angelo State men's track & field squad were honored as the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA) announced its 2008 Men's All-Academic Team.

ASU freshmen Wade Goode, Brian Holik and Tyler Orlando were among the 109 student-athletes honored representing 44 NCAA Division II institutions.To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Team, a student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 and have met the NCAA D-II indoor or outdoor automatic or provisional qualifying standard in their respective event.

Holik was an All-American for the Rams this past spring as part of ASU's 4x100 and 4x400-meter relay squads. Goode recorded a provisional qualifying mark in the shot put while Orlando had a provisional mark in the javelin

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Here are the LSC honorees

When Eric Foreman decided to transfer to Tarleton for his final year of collegiate eligibility, Texans Head Coach Sam McElroy knew the former Class 2A high school star would be a valuable addition to the roster.

The only question - where to play the three-way standout from Corrigan Camden who transferred from Texas last fall.

Foreman, who started at linebacker for the Longhorns as a freshman, led Corrigan-Camden High School to the 2002 2A-Division I state title as a quarterback and defensive back. After his senior season in high school, Foreman was No. 33 on Rivals’ list of best recruits classified by position as athletes - a title reserved for versatile standouts who could play a number of different positions in college.

Foreman was first-team All-State selection at defensive back his senior season, and a second-team honoree at quarterback. He passed for 858 yards and 8 touchdowns, but was even more dangerous while on the run, accumulating 1,266 yards and 24 scores. Defensively, he made 39 stops, 3 interceptions and forced two fumbles. He also returned a punt 70 yards for a touchdown.

BRENT HOLMES remembers hitting a three-pointer and then scurrying back on defense after a teammate made a steal and converted a layup. He does not remember the vicious elbow that nearly killed him a few seconds later.

In an instant, Holmes went from high school star athlete to national curiosity.

"It was," his father said, "kind of a nightmare to see that happen."

Holmes, a wide receiver for the Soul, was a three-sport senior star in 1999 for East Central High in San Antonio. On Jan. 15 of that year, during a basketball game against South San Antonio High, Tony Limon hit Holmes with an elbow to the face without warning. The frightening incident was so vicious it resulted in a 5-year prison term for the attacker. Dwayne Holmes, Brent's father, said he immediately thought of Kermit Washington's infamous sucker punch that almost killed Rudy Tomjanovich in a 1977 NBA game.

Monday, July 21, 2008

The folks at Amarillo.com are ready for some football. Greg Jaklewicz has a story on the off-season preparation of the Buffs in A-weight-ing title defense. Lance Lahnert has a west Texas (not to be confused with West Texas A&M) column on expectations for Amarillo area teams in Expect great things for Tech, WT football. He says "West Texas will play for the NCAA D-II title" - how's that for pressure?

Saturday, July 19, 2008

FORT WORTH – The Tarleton Texan football team recently spent an evening out of its offseason to serve a spaghetti supper at the Ronald McDonald House in Fort Worth.

For the second straight year, the Texans continued their community service projects by preparing an evening meal for the families of the Ronald McDonald House. Spaghetti, several different sauces, garlic and French bread and salad were served for the main course. Ice cream sundaes topped off the dinner.

“This has been a great way for us to give back,” said Tarleton head coach Sam McElroy. “It is also a great chance for our players and staff to see how fortunate they are to have the opportunities they have. We all saw how a little bit of time goes a long way to encouraging people.”

The Ronald McDonald House serves a special place in McElroy’s heart. The McElroy family stayed at the house after his youngest daughter was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia in 2005.

“Having been there gives us a different perspective on things,” McElroy said. “When Val and I stayed, we were very grateful for a nice, hot meal instead of having to worry about what we were going to have for supper or going out to eat again. We understand what those families are going through, and this is a good chance for us to share with those families during a tough time in their lives.”

Friday, July 18, 2008

DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern Oklahoma State University quarterback Justin Pitrucha will have to wait a little longer to appear in front of a judge.

The 21-year-old Pitrucha was arrested on April 22 on charges of possession of marijuana and intent to distribute. He was scheduled to appear in front of a judge Thursday morning for a preliminary hearing, but it has been pushed back.

Last week, SOSU head football coach Ray Richards told KXII Sports that Pitrucha would be allowed to reclaim a roster spot if he clears up his charges and satisfy requirements set forth by the team.

In an interview last week with KXII sports, SOSU Head Football Coach, Ray Richards said that if Pitrucha can clear up his pending legal charges, and satisfy several other requirements set forth by the team, then he will be given a chance to reclaim a spot on the team.

"He's got to do certain things to earn his way back on this team. We do have a path for him, but he's got to do his part. If he does his part, we'll continue to monitor him really for the rest of his career. If he does those things, I think it'll be a good plan for everyone involved. We're in the business of helping kids, so I'm going to treat Justin as if he's my own son. I'm going to do the right thing for him and this football team. We want guys who do the right thing, so if he does everything should work out," Richards said.

Pitrucha is scheduled to appear in court again on August 7 at 8:45 a.m.

Additional stories and videos at kxii.com, including an interview with SEO Head Coach Ray Richards.

All through his football career, John Randle was constantly making people believe.

He was too small, his style too raw, his background too simple for him to become a star.

"My whole football career was a major surprise," Randle said. "I was just a kid from Texas with a love for the sport."

He went to high school in Hearne, Texas, in the east-central part of the state. Forget Division I football, no one thought he could play Division II. After all, there weren't many 6-foot-1, 220-pound defensive linemen even at that level.

"They thought maybe I'd make a good running back," Randle said.

So, he played junior college ball in the mid-1980s (at Trinity Valley Junior College in Athens, Texas) and proved himself there.

At least, proved himself enough to get a look from Texas A&I (now Texas A&M Kingsville), a Division II power.

"I had some offers," Randle said, "but one of my coaches at Trinity went to A&I and they had an opening for a defensive end. I was looking to play in a 4-3 (defense).

" It proved to be an education for Randle, both on and off the field.

"The first words out of the coach's mouth were 'son, where's your technique?'" Randle said. "It was like starting over. I thought because something worked in high school, it should work in college.

"I went all through the techniques and fundamentals ... I was going to the school of football.

"Randle learned enough to become a two-time Little All-American, a two-time Lone Star Conference Lineman of the Year and helped his team to a 20-4 record and two berths in the Division II playoffs.

His performance there is what has led to him being one of three College Division players who will be enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.

Three months from today, the center of the NCAA Division II football universe will be Kimbrough Memorial Stadium outside of Canyon.

Oct. 18 is when West Texas A&M and Abilene Christian meet. It'll be the eighth game for WT, seventh for ACU. It's possible both teams will be unbeaten, though ACU faces the biggest hurdle by playing at Northwest Missouri State to open the season.

The Wildcats will win that game, by the way.

Already, the WT-ACU drama is building. The hype, too.

WT wound up No. 8 in the final American Football Coaches Association poll last fall while ACU was No. 15. Both teams are solid top 20 picks in preseason polls, the Wildcats ranked highest at No. 5 by The Sporting News and WT No. 10 by Lindy's magazine. Players from both teams have been projected as All-Americans, including record-setting ACU running back Bernard Scott, who could be the best player in the D2 nation.

As the dream of a new field house for San Angelo Stadium comes closer to reality for the San Angelo Independent School District, the Angelo State University Athletics Department is pitching in since any improvement in stadium facilities helps out Rams football as well.

As a result, the new leasing contract will mean up to $15,000 a year in additional funds annually for the next five years to the SAISD athletic program to support the new field house.

“San Angelo Stadium is our home, too,” said Kathleen Brasfield, ASU’s athletic director, “and we wanted to do our part to help the new field house become a reality.”

In past years, the university has paid $2,000 per game to use the facility with SAISD retaining the concession rights. Under the new agreement suggested by ASU President Joseph C. Rallo, ASU would pay a flat fee of $25,000 per year and still maintain the concession rights. With five ASU home games scheduled this football season, for instance, SAISD will have an additional $15,000 to go toward the new facility.

SAISD Superintendent Dr. Carol Ann Bonds said, “SAISD is extremely grateful to Angelo State for the contributions they will be making over the next five years to the field house project. We are honored by their commitment and look forward to meeting mutual goals.”

“This is not just about ASU or SAISD,” ASU President Rallo said, “but the entire community because a modern field house is an economic development tool that can help bring to the community additional high school playoff games that we are now losing because of the existing facilities.”

San Angelo Convention and Visitor Bureau estimates put the economic impact of a football playoff game at a minimum of $70 per person. While San Angelo Stadium has been a regular venue for six-man games as well as some 1A and 2A schools, bigger schools with their larger fan bases – and greater economic impact – have not utilized San Angelo Stadium in recent years. Attracting bigger schools would mean more money into the local economy.

Under consideration by SAISD is an approximately 30,000-square-foot facility that would provide four dressing rooms for visiting teams as well as facilities for Central High School athletic teams. Though state-of-the-art when they were constructed 52 years ago, the existing field house in recent years has experienced various infrastructure problems.

The ASU support underscores longstanding cooperation between the university and SAISD.

SAISD Athletic Director Rex Scofield said, “A new 30,000-square-foot field house will ensure that San Angelo Stadium is one of the best sporting venues in West Texas. Both Angelo State and...

Thursday, July 17, 2008

A sixth Javelina will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame Saturday when John Randle (Hearne) joins the elite group in South Bend, Ind.

Randle was an All-American defensive lineman for the Javelinas in 1988 and 1989 and then went on to an All-Pro career in the National Football League.

He will ride in an enshrinement parade at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, will take part in a FanFest at 9 a.m., will participate in a flag football game with the other Hall of Famers at 10:30 a.m., will serve as an instructor at a youth football clinic at 11:30 a.m., will be involved in an autograph session at 12:45 p.m. and will be enshrined into the Hall of Fame at 6:30 p.m. in the Palais Royale Ballroom.

He becomes the second Javelina from the 1988 and 1989 teams to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Running back Johnny Bailey was inducted in 2000. Other Javelinas in the Hall are athletic director/head football coach/ athlete Gil Steinke (1996), quarterback Richard Ritchie (1998), wideout Dwayne Nix (2003) and defensive back Darrell Green (2004).

The first divisional inductees were enshrined in 1996. Prior to that, only athletes and coaches at NCAA Division I-A schools were eligible for selection.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Senior Cortney Vincent, who lettered three seasons at NCAA Division I Clemson, is transferring to Tarleton State, instantly making him the most high-profile and experienced member of a defensive unit that returns five regulars from 2007.

The signing of the 6-0, 235-pound linebacker was first reported by lscscoop.com, a Web site covering the Lone Star Conference, and later confirmed by Tarleton Head Football Coach Sam McElroy.

“He just signed his scholarship (Monday),” McElroy said. While Vincent, 22, brings experience and talent - he made 68 stops last fall, including 7 for loss and 2 sacks while starting all 13 games - he also brings something else that is not unordinary of DI transfers - baggage.

Vincent was arrested and charged with DUI in Pickens County, SC in December, just weeks before Clemson battled Auburn in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. CU coach Tommy Bowden allowed the starting linebacker to play in the bowl game - Clemson lost, 23-20, in overtime - but later suspended him from all team activities during the spring. He then dismissed him from the team in May, saying, according to the Associated Press, that Vincent would have been academically eligible for the 2008 season, but had not met personal goals set for him by the team.

“I understand that the case hasn’t even gone to court yet,” McElroy said of Vincent’s DUI charges. “I think (Clemson) was hoping to have some closure on that whole deal by the end of the spring, and that didn’t happen. I don’t know if it will ever happen.”

Former Texas A&M-Kingsville stars Eddie Moten and Brent Holmes and their Philadelphia Soul teammates have advanced to Arena Bowl XXII in New Orleans on Sunday, July 27.

Moten intercepted two passes and had a team high 10.5 tackles while Holmes caught five passes for 57 yards and three touchdowns as the Soul crushed the Cleveland Gladiators in the AFL semifinals 70-35.

Moten, who was named second team All-Arena, leads all AFL players in tackles (23.5) and interceptions (3) during the 2008 AFL playoffs. He now has nine interceptions for the entire 2008 season.

Holmes has caught nine passes for 96 yards and four touchdowns in two playoff games. Playing for his third team in 2008, Holmes now has 78 passes for 830 yards and 15 touchdowns.

The Soul, who’s owner partnership includes John Bon Jovi and Ron Jaworski, are making their first ever Arena Bowl appearance and will face defending champion San Jose. The game will be nationally televised at 2:00 p.m. by ABC.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (July 14) – A former Central Oklahoma All-American has helped lead his team to the Arena Football League championship game in New Orleans.

Place-kicker A.J. Haglund made 9-of-10 extra points and two field goals in San Jose’s 81-55 rout of Grand Rapids in the American Conference finals last weekend, with the defending champion SaberCats set to take on Philadelphia in ArenaBowl XXII on July 27. He's made all three field goal tries and 16-of-19 PATs in two playoff wins.

Haglund, who was named AFL Kicker of the Year earlier this month, has scored a league-record 204 points this season. He’s hit 24-of-28 field goals and 132-of-143 extra points while also making 18.0 special teams tackles for San Jose, 13-5 on the year.

A native of El Reno, Haglund was UCO’s place-kicker for four straight years from 2001-04 and was a two-time first-team All-Lone Star Conference pick who earned All-America honors as a senior. He set school records for field goals made in a game (five), season (15) and career (40) and PATs (139) in a career while finishing second in career points (259).

Haglund started his professional career for the arenafootball2 team in Oklahoma City and is in his second season with the SaberCats.

Teams report in less than a month, and the media guides are about to be shipped out, but for die-hard Central Oklahoma football fans, here is an early glance at the Bronchos upcoming season.

UCO faces a brutal early-season schedule, which features three teams (Pittsburg State, West Texas A&M and Tarleton State) that each finished the 2007 season in the top 10 of the Southwest Regional rankings, in the first four games.

Should the Bronchos survive the stretch — two wins would be considered a success — they would once again be in the drivers seat for another Lone Star Conference North Division title, in Coach Tracy Holland’s first season.

Texas A&M University-Commerce announced today the hiring of Mark Pryor as the new head volleyball coach.

“I am excited about the opportunity here at Texas A&M Commerce. There is a lot of work to be done, but it seems that the infrastructure from previous head coach Gwen Weatherford is in place for this program to be competitive within the Lone Star Conference and in this region,” said Pryor. “This is a great opportunity for my family and I.”

“We are very excited to have Mark Pryor join our Lion athletic family. He brings a wealth of volleyball knowledge to our program and his relationships in the volleyball community will keep us focused on the vision of becoming a national leader in college athletics,” said athletic director Carlton Cooper.

"In choosing a coach to lead the volleyball program to the next level, we wanted a person who is committed to our athletic department mission, has a strong work ethic, believes in community engagement, and has a solid coaching background,” said associate athletic director for academic affairs/SWA Judy Sackfield. “We are thrilled to have Mark Pryor join the Lion athletic family.”

Pryor comes to A&M-Commerce with an impressive background that includes being a head coach at Louisiana Monroe and Southwest Baptist as well as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Boise State. In addition, he has experience as the head coach of the Dallas Premier Volleyball Club and an assistant with the USA Volleyball High Performance Program and New Mexico State University.

While at Louisiana Monroe, he built a .500 program where they established 11 school records, posted their first non-losing season in 16 years and recorded double-digit victories for the first time in 14 years. Pryor was named the 2005 Southland Conference Coach of the Year and recruited the 2005 and 2006 Louisiana Sports Writers Association Newcomer of the Year.

At Boise State, Pryor played an integral role in the improvement of the program on the court and his recruiting efforts brought in two all-Western Athletic Conference selections as well as the first-ever Volleyball Magazine Fab 50 recruit. On the court, Boise State went from last in the WAC to fourth within a two-year span.

At Southwest Baptist, he revitalized a program that experienced a 10-win improvement and was ranked 12th in the nation in blocks per game. At the Bolivar, Missouri based institution; he was involved in the entire development of the program, including recruiting, training, fund raising, budget implementation, public relations, and marketing.

Pryor is a 1995 graduate of Baylor University, where he played on the men’s club volleyball team before entering the coaching ranks. In 1998, he received his master's degree in public relations/communications from Louisiana-Monroe.

What Others Are Saying About Mark Pryor:“Mark has extensive experience in all phases of coaching and will be a great fit at Texas A&M-Commerce. He will be successful due to his unmatched work ethic, keen eye for talent and ability to develop that talent in the gym.” – Tennessee head coach Rob Patrick

“Texas A&M University-Commerce did an outstanding job in getting Mark Pryor, who is one of the top recruiters and top young coaches in America. He is very experienced at recruiting and developing players. He will help the players at A&M-Commerce in a big way on and off the court.” –Baylor head coach Jim Barnes

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

The Abilene Reporter News is reporting that Derek Hood announced his resignation today. The head coach for cross country will be joining a wind energy company. Hood was on staff at ACU for three years and guided to the Wildcats to national titles in 2006 & 2007. Prior to his arrival, ACU had not won a team title in cross country. For his efforts, he was named the national coach of the year in 2006.

According to LSC Scoop sources, Clemson starting MLB Courtney Vincent has transferred to Tarleton to finish out his Senior Year.Vincent started 12 games in 2007 and was sixth on the team in tackles with 68, including seven for loss and two sacks.

Maryville, Mo. -Josh Lamberson, the second-leading passer in Northwest Missouri State history, has been hired as an assistant football coach at Southeastern Oklahoma State in Durant, Okla. Lamberson will be the quarterbacks coach for head coach Ray Richards’ Savage Storm.

Lamberson passed for 7,365 yards, threw 65 touchdowns and rushed for 12 in a career that spanned the 2002-05 seasons. He quarterbacked the Bearcats to a national runner-up appearance as a senior in 2005 and passed for 326 yards and a score in the championship game against Grand Valley State.

Lamberson earned his master’s degree in education from Northwest last December. He worked primarily with Bearcat quarterbacks while serving as a graduate assistant for the program during the past two seasons.

In Durant, Lamberson will be reunited with former Northwest wide receiver Scott Courter, who serves as the Savage Storm’s offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. Courter was a student-athlete at Northwest from 1995-99. He was the Bearcats’ wide receivers coach during the 2003-04 campaigns.

DURANT, Okla. – Texoma’s best family entertainment value just got even more affordable. The Southeastern Athletics Department has lowered football ticket prices and announced a new ticket package for families.

“With rising gas prices, we want to provide a place for your whole family to have fun right here at Southeastern,” said Southeastern Athletics Director Keith Baxter. “It is going to be great for your family and your wallet.”

Watch the SE Football Team try for their 5th consecutive LSC North Title at Paul Laird Field, be one of the first to experience SE basketball in the new arena opening this fall and watch the softball and baseball teams make runs at a national championships – all at one great price for your family.

WEATHERFORD, Okla. – Supporters of the Southwestern Oklahoma State University athletic program will get a first-hand opportunity to provide relief to the growing athletic scholarship costs by participating in a special Hawaiian Luau Dinner and Auction this summer.

The event, co-sponsored by the SWOSU Athletic Association and the SWOSU Foundation, is set to begin at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 2, in the newly remodeled Memorial Student Union Ballroom. The event is designed to raise additional money for the funding of athletic scholarships for many of the 12 sports programs SWOSU currently sponsors. Last year the auction raised more than $40,000 for student-athlete scholarships.

Single dinner/auction tickets are $40 and eight-seat table can be reserved for $400. Tickets are available in advance and can be purchased by calling the SWOSU Athletics Office at 580-774-3068.Some of the items that participants can bid on are as follows”

The purpose of the SWOSU Athletic Association is to supplement the Athletic Department’s budget in order to be competitive in the prestigious NCAA Division II and Lone Star Conference. The top priorities are recruiting and scholarships. The funds will be used to attract talented athletes to campus and supplement the department’s scholarship fund.

SWOSU places high standards on its student-athletes, coaches, and athletic administrators in order to excel academically and athletically.

Friday, July 11, 2008

Five members of the Angelo State women's track & field squad were honored on Thursday as the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA) announced its 2008 Women's All-Academic Team.

To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Team, a student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 and have met the NCAA D-II indoor or outdoor automatic or provisional qualifying standard in their respective event.

Painter and Hooker both represented the Rambelles at the national meet this past spring. Painter qualified in the 400-meter hurdles while Hooker was part of ASUs 4x100-meter relay squad. Crockett provisionally qualified in the long jump, Heath in the 1,500-meter run and Ruiz in the 400-meter hurdles.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Here are the LSC represenatives

GERMANTOWN, Md. -- Former Midwestern State standout Daniel Woolard chipped his first professional goal for Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire Wednesday night in a quarterfinal match with D.C. United in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup played at the Maryland SoccerPlex in suburban Washington, D.C.

Woolard completed four years of eligibility for Midwestern State from 2003-06 while appearing in 80 matches. The Bedford, Texas native was a first-team NSCAA/adidas All American and was selected the Southwest Soccer Conference's Defensive Player of the Year in his senior season.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Junior colleges continue to be the main pipeline of student-athletes into Lone Star Conference basketball programs, with one member school, Eastern New Mexico, going as far as to sign only juco recruits.

No LSC members have released a list of exclusively high school signees, while more and more schools are going the Division I route to find the best athletes available. Texas A&M-Commerce announced the addition of five athletes to its roster Tuesday, four of them transfers from NCAA Division I universities. Tarleton State has built a reputation signing Division I transfers, landing three last year, and two so far this off season. Texas A&M-Kingsville, Midwestern State and Central Oklahoma have each added one D1 player.

Tarleton State University has announced the addition of Texas private school standout Charlie Hurd to the Texans basketball program.

Hurd is one of two high school signees the Texans have had signed for some time, but have waited to release. Associate Head Coach Chris Reisman suggests Hurd, a 6-0 guard, could redshirt during the upcoming 2008-09 season.

Hurd was selected to the 2007-08 Texas Association of Basketball Coaches All-State team for large private schools after averaging 18 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals per contest at Bellaire Episcopal High School. The newest Texan led the suburban Houston prep school to a 21-11 mark as a senior, earning numerous team awards.

Abilene Christian University track and field athletes earned spots on the Jamaican Olympic team.

Former eight-time NCAA Division II hurdles champion Delloreen Ennis-London finished second in the 100-meter hurdles at the Jamaican Senior Trials to earn a spot on her third Olympic team. Ennis-London finished fourth in the event at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, before seeing her medal bid end in the semifinals of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

Also at the Jamaican trials, former ACU national champion Marvin Essor finished fifth in the 400 meters (46.04) and will run on the Jamaican 4-x-400 relay team. Essor will be making his first Olympic appearance.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Lions Sign Five

The men’s basketball coaching staff at Texas A&M University-Commerce announced today the signing of five new players who will join the Lions for the upcoming season. All five bring an accolade-filled background to a team that advanced to the championship game of the Lone Star Conference Tournament in 2007-08.

Cardell Hunter, a 6-1 guard, is the first of four Division I transfers to join the Lions. He spent the last three seasons at the University of Texas-Arlington, which advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2007-08. After redshirting as a freshman with the Mavericks, he saw action in 62 games over the last two seasons and averaged 4.0 points, 2.8 assists and 2.1 rebounds a contest. He scored a career-high 12 points against Texas-San Antonio (Jan. 23, 2008) and Sam Houston State (Feb. 22, 2007). Last year, he dished out six assists in three-different games and had five rebounds in a game twice. As a redshirt freshman in 2006-07, he was a member of the Southland Conference All-Academic Honorable Mention Team. Hunter is a graduate of Carter High School in Dallas. In high school, he was named first-team all-district, all-region and all-state while leading the Cowboys to a 34-5 record and a state semifinal appearance his senior season. In addition, he was a McDonald's All-American nominee as a senior and second-team all-district performer his junior season. In the classroom, he was a member of the A/B Honor Roll and inducted into the National Honor Society and named to the Who's Who Among American High School Students.

Sammy Jackson, a 6-5 forward, comes to A&M-Commerce after spending the last two years at Jacksonville Junior College in Jacksonville, Texas. Last year, he averaged 10.0 points and a team-best 7.1 rebounds a contest as well as making 55.2 percent of his shots from the field. As a freshman, he averaged 9.1 points and 5.8 rebounds a contest en route to honorable mention all-region honors.

The third Lions signee, Michael Milton, is the all-time leading scorer at Plano Senior High and comes to A&M-Commerce after previously attending Big 12 member, Texas Tech. As a high school senior, he was named first team all state, district MVP, Dallas Morning News first team all area and a TABC All-Star while averaging 21.9 points and 6.5 rebounds a game. Milton set the school single-game scoring record with 41 points and was a three-time all-district selection.....